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Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a condition of accelerated loss of
bone, is a major health problem in North America and is responsible for well over one
million bone fractures each year. More women die from the complications of these fractures
annually than from the combined deaths resulting from breast and cervical cancer.

Here are some facts regarding osteoporosis :

a woman will typically lose 50% of her bone mass during her lifetime.

1 of every 3 women will have a hip fracture in extreme old age.

Middle-aged and elderly women intake only 550 mg of calcium per day.
Women with osteoporosis intake even less.

Calcium requirements are 1000 mg/day for pre-menopausal women and
1500 mg/day for post-menopausal women since :

1. Middle aged women can not achieve calcium balances at intakes of
less than 1000mg/day.

Who has a greater risk of
getting osteoporosis ?

Check all of the risk factors that apply to you :

Female
Age 50 or older
Past menopause
Prolonged hormonal imbalances
Ovaries removed, or menopause by age 45
Not enough calcium and vitamin D in your food
Not enough physical activity
Family history or osteoporosis
Thin, 'small-boned'
White or Eurasian ancestry
Smoker
Caffeine (more than 3 cups a day of coffee, tea, or
cola)
Alcohol (more than two drinks a day)
Excess use of certain medication (cortisone and
prednisone, thyroid hormone, anticonvulsants,and aluminum-containing antacids)

If you've checked 4 or more risk
factors, please read on and then consult a health professional.

Is dietary calcium the answer?

Yes, however not all sources of calcium offer equal protection. Calcium carbonate is
widely sold in many products, however it is not absorbed well by the body and thus offers
little calcium. Calcium gluconate, lactonate or chelate are the best sources of calcium.

Milk is a good source of calcium, but many people have developed an allergy towards milk.
So, milk isn't for everyone. No doubt you've seen advertisements suggesting you take Tums
"for the calcium you need". Tums is an antacid which contains calcium carbonate.
Ironically, when the normal acid secreted in your stomach is neutralized, calcium is very
poorly absorbed. The digestion and absorption of other nutrients is also impaired. In
fact, high intake of calcium carbonate may lead to other disorders through negative
effects on the metabolism of other nutrients.

What May Help

Recent scientific evidence, however, support the following conclusions about the
prevention of bone loss through comprehensive supplementation:

1. The adverse effects of age-related bone loss may be prevented if adequate amounts of
calcium are ingested during childhood. Some go so far as to say osteoporosis should be
viewed as a pediatric disease. Maximum bone density in young children and adolescents may
not be achieved because calcium intake is often not adequate. National surveys show that
many children in the U.S. consume less than half of the RDA for calcium. It is also known
that a large amount of the bone a woman will lose during her lifetime is lost before
menopause. The once believed notion that bone loss occurs only in elderly women is
inaccurate. Many researchers feel quality calcium supplementation is essential for both
young and old.

2. Supplemental calcium may significantly reduce the progression of bone loss already
begun in postmenopausal women. One study group experienced a 43% reduction in bone loss
when they added 1,000 mg of calcium to their normal diet. The researchers concluded that
complete calcium supplementation may slow or reduce bone loss.

Who May Benefit From
Calcium/Magnesium Supplementation?

Recent food surveys demonstrate a majority of North-American men, women and children fail
to consume adequate amounts of certain minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc,
copper, and manganese. Considering the important role these minerals play in building and
maintaining strong and healthy bones, proper bone nourishment is essential for all
North-Americans.

Other risk factors which may result in an accelerated loss of bone include:

menopause

hysterectomy

a family history of osteoporosis

a thin, petite or small frame

pregnancy

breast feeding

allergy to, or avoidance of, milk or dairy products

regular use of drugs such as Dilantin, Prednisone, Lasix, Synthroid or other steroids

Regular Exercise is Important

Weight
bearing exercises also aid in the reduction of bone loss. The best exercises for
strengthening bones include brisk walking, strength training, stair climbing, hiking, and
dancing. Although swimming and cycling are good aerobic exercises, they put less weight on
the bones - and therefore do less to increase skeletal mass.

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